Abstract: Systems and methods for processing a call are disclosed. Generally a stored indication of a user's language preference is accessed in response to receipt of a call initiated by the user. The call is then routed to a location based on the stored indication of the user's language preference.

Abstract: Processing a communication session involves accessing a database storing features that include caller preferences associated with a caller and callee capabilities associated with a callee. Rules for processing a communication session are retrieved. Each rule specifies a condition and an action to be performed if the condition is satisfied. The rules are applied to at least one of the features to yield a determined action, and a communication session is processed in accordance with the determined action.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for providing selectable options to a calling party while the calling party is on hold. A call from the calling party is received and the calling party is placed on hold. While on hold, the calling party is provided with a plurality of selectable options. Each of the plurality of options corresponds to a predefined operation. A selected option request, corresponding to one of the plurality of options, is received from the calling party. The predefined operation corresponding to the selected option request is then performed. A system is also provided having instructions thereon for providing selectable options to a calling party while on hold.

Abstract: A prompt translation application for use in a telecommunications messaging system provides an administrator with a plurality of messaging prompts in a base language for revising, translating, and editing. The administrator can nearly simultaneously revise both a visual component of a prompt and an audio component of the prompt, and save the revisions for use on any number of associated endpoints. In the preferred embodiments, revisions to the visual component are made by user input, such as keystrokes, and to the audio component by selection of audio segments to be played in a particular order.

Abstract: Language interpretation for users includes a portable system for providing access to interpretation services, such as a prepaid, debit or credit card for the user. The prepaid card has a number of minutes of language interpretation service associated with it in addition to a number of minutes of telephone time. A telephone number to call is printed on the card for language interpretation services. Minutes or other unit of measure are deducted from the card as used for the interpretation. The cards are language specific, and the telephone number printed on the card is specific to a certain language. The service can be part of telephone service or more especially part of a mobile telephone service. The mobile telephone has a number of minutes of language interpretation service associated with it in addition to a number of minutes of telephone time. A telephone number is programmed to call the language interpretation services.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing access to stored audio data include a convenient syntax that facilitates control of an audio server. The methods and systems are capable of playing provisioned sequences of audio data to end users, where the provisioned sequences are identifiable using a unique audio identifier. A set data structure provides access to stored audio data using a unique audio identifier and a selector for choosing a member within a set. Function and navigation keys allow end users to control playback of audio, recording of speech, and collection of digits.

Abstract: A method is disclosed that enables a user to set their “away” or auto-reply messages for two or more communications services (e.g., e-mail, voice mail, etc.) in one action. Separate actions are required in the prior art to change each outgoing message for every distinct communication service. The illustrative embodiment of the present invention is a method that enables a user to change the auto-reply message for multiple communication services with less effort than was required for multiple services in the prior art. In accordance with the illustrative embodiment, a text auto-reply message intended for e-mail is automatically converted into an abbreviated form for instant messaging and wireless text services and into audio for services like telephony. Furthermore, the illustrative embodiment enables the automatic translation of messages into different natural languages, and can apply rules so that the resulting messages are used appropriately.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for embodiments of a speech recognition system call flow object model. The systems and methods organize and execute, for example, multiple question directed dialogs, overview dialogs, or natural language directed dialogs. In certain embodiments, the organizing and executing of the natural language directed dialogs uses primary and secondary concepts without requiring a structured response. The systems and methods enable the call flow designers to define particular call flows without requiring the designers to perform any programming or coding.

Abstract: A method and system for determining a language of a call handled by an automatic call distributor is disclosed. The method includes the steps of detecting the call, sampling an audio portion of the call, fitting a plurality of templates to the sampled portion of the call, and determining a language of the call based upon a best relative fit between one of the plurality of audio templates and the sampled portion of the call.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for building a training set for an automated speech recognition-based system, which determines the statistically optimal number of frequently requested responses to automate in order to achieve a desired automation rate. The invention may be used to select the appropriate tokens and responses to train the system and to achieve a desired “phrase coverage” for all of the many different ways human beings may phrase a request that calls for one of a plurality of frequently-requested responses. The invention also determines the statistically optimal number of tokens (spoken requests) required to train a speech recognition-based system to achieve the desired phrase coverage and optimal allocation of tokens over the set of responses that are to be automated.

Abstract: A system includes telephony devices that provide services and applications through the execution of scripts in web pages.

Abstract: In one embodiment, when a mobile telephone accessible to the Internet accesses a homepage provider server, character codes of the homepage accessed is identified. Thereafter, a homepage is displayed using character codes in the mobile telephone on the basis of the identification. The homepage provider server provides information for identifying character codes. A character code provider always updates and registers the latest character codes. The mobile telephone accesses the homepage provider server and the character code provider through wireless telephone network and the Internet.

Abstract: The present embodiments provide an efficient and effective method and system for routing calls to predetermined destinations to facilitate communication in a customer's preferred language. The present embodiments allow for an indication of a customer's language preference to be stored in some fashion and also allow for that indication to be accessed when the customer places a call that may require communications in a specific language. The indication of the customer's language preference can be accessed upon receipt of the call and appropriate information can be retrieved that enables the call to be routed to a destination to facilitate communication in a customer's preferred language.

Abstract: A method and system for automatically translating messages in a communication system wherein, when a connection is set up between a calling terminal device and a called terminal device, a first item of selector information identifying a language that depends on a calling subscriber is compared to a second item of selector information identifying a language that depends on a called subscriber. If the items of selector information do not match, a translator is looped into the connection automatically.

Abstract: A method and system for providing locally generated prompts/announcements from a centralized source is presented in which voice and text files can be downloaded from a centralized server to a client device. The client device can include a telecommunications gateway which supports telephony services provided over a Hybrid Fiber Coaxial (HFC) network. By downloading files which are appropriate for the user, the client side receives and stores an appropriate subset of the prompt/announcement files available on the server.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for reporting to subscribers, wireless network events in a plurality of formats and languages depending upon the particular subscriber group to which a wireless subscriber belongs. When a subscriber requests a call, a switching node in the network invokes a trigger that identifies a location register for routing the call and sends a route request to the location register. While processing the route request, if the location register detects an event that would prevent the call from being routed, the location register identifies the subscriber group of the wireless subscriber and determines a directory number associated with the identified subscriber group and the detected event. The location register then returns the determined directory number to the switching node. Using the determined directory number, the switching node establishes the call to a message node, where a message associated with the determined directory number is executed.

Abstract: Provided is an arrangement that enables deployment of international prompts in a voice messaging system based on a server configured for dynamically generating a selected concatenated prompt, from stored prompt fragments, in a selected language.

Abstract: The present embodiments provide an efficient and effective method and system for routing calls to predetermined destinations to facilitate communication in a customer's preferred language. The present embodiments allow for an indication of a customer's language preference to be stored in some fashion and also allow for that indication to be accessed when the customer places a call that may require communications in a specific language. The indication of the customer's language preference can be accessed upon receipt of the call and appropriate information can be retrieved that enables the call to be routed to a destination to facilitate communication in a customer's preferred language.

Abstract: A method of providing a caller with a directory assistance dialog. The dialog is configurable, at any level of the dialog, from an automated speech recognition (ASR) dialog to an operator-assisted (OP) dialog. The dialog is handed off to an operator if any level of the speech recognition dialog fails. Also, a configuration switch may be set to cause the dialog to be handed off to an operator even if a response at some level of the ASR dialog is successfully recognized.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for passing information between a local exchange and a user/terminal, the language used for presenting the information being chosen in the terminal and the local exchange, and in order to avoid that messages generated by the terminal and the text generated by the local exchange are presented in different languages the present invention suggest a method to synchronize the language in the terminal and the language of the local exchange, or vice versa, wherein are used predefined codes for each of the languages involved.

Abstract: A wireless communications system providing interactive voice response is disclosed. The system is menu driven, and can accept information as well as deliver information to the customer in the form of prompts or prompt information. The system includes provisions that permit customers to vary the prompt information. In prompt information can be varied in a number ways, including the method of delivery, the content, pre or post-call prompts, and the frequency in which the prompt information is delivered.

Abstract: A system and method for automating workflow related to the reception, review, distribution, and disposition of client contact through electronic communications. All types of received contact messages are converted to e-mail messages and automatically processed using natural language processing to generate one or more replies. The original message and the reply(ies) are distributed to one or more workflow automation databases, such as customer care databases, direct mail campaign databases, and sales lead databases, for transmission of the reply(ies) to the originator. The method can be realized in a single database or across multiple databases, located on a single computer platform or distributed across multiple networked computer platforms.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for character entry and more particularly Chinese character entry. The method improves the ease of entry for Chinese characters on a device that has a keypad arrangement of at least a 3×3 matrix (106). For example wireless communication devices such as radiotelephones have a keypad (108) for dialing phone numbers. Arranging the Chinese characters on the device display in a 3×3 matrix to match the at least 3×3 matrix of the keypad allows the user to quickly select from the pinyin list (104) the key on the keypad that corresponds to the desired character in the matching matrix.

Abstract: A message processing device is adapted to obtain text data and read aloud the text data aloud by using a voice synthesizer. A loudspeaker device is connected to the message processing device to output or read aloud the text data. The text data can be received through a receiving device that receives outside information data or e-mail message data. The voice synthesizer can be controlled by an outside information controller, with the outside information controller being able to distinguish senders of the text data and being able to select one voice tone data to read aloud messages sent by one sender. If the controller recognizes that there are other messages sent by another sender, the controller allots different voice tone data for the other sender's messages. The message processing device can include a voice navigation device to generate voice signals for giving route guidance messages or information to a driver of a vehicle.

Abstract: A virtual interactive response (VIR) system mimics and enhances interactive voice response (IVR) technology by using humans to drive the voice recognition unit (VRU) speech recognition functionality. This VIR system initiates a dialogue with the customer by prompting the customer with an initial welcoming message. Calls from a customer are initially made in a first region having high labor costs, but are then directed to an overseas location using voice over Internet protocol (VOIP) or other voice communications technology. The calls are then directed to an appropriate human agent at the overseas location who then listens to the customer's query and makes a decision on how to respond to the customer.

Abstract: A method and communication network wherein one or more announcement texts are established in a service control point. A message initiated on the basis of a call of the subscriber wherein information about the supportability of announcements by an announcement unit are contained is received and interpreted by the service control point. Given support of an announcement by an announcement unit, a message in which the announcement text is contained is sent from the service control point. The announcement unit converts a received announcement text into an announcement that is then transmitted to the calling subscriber on a voice channel.

Abstract: A telecommunication network exchange and method of playing an announcement to a call party in a telephone exchange during connection set-up. The invention is based on the idea of totally separating the detection of the need for an announcement from playing the announcement. The need for the announcement is detected in a conventional manner at a given stage of call set-up. However, the exchange does not play the announcement immediately, but delays playing it up to a later stage of call set-up or up to a later event, if necessary. The announcement may be played, for example, not until collection of additional dialing is definitely terminated, the call is confirmed to be successful, the announcement is confirmed to be necessary/correct, and so on. As a consequence of the delayed playing of the announcement, wrong and unnecessary announcements and the failure of the call are thus avoided.

Abstract: Systems and methods by which voice/data communications may occur in multiple modes/protocols are disclosed. In particular, systems and methods are provided for multiple native mode/protocol voice and data transmissions and receptions with a computing system having a multi-bus structure, including, for example, a TDM bus and a packet bus, and multi-protocol framing engines. Such systems preferably include subsystem functions such as PBX, voice mail and other telephony functions, LAN hub and data router. In preferred embodiments, a TDM bus and a packet bus are intelligently bridged and managed, thereby enabling such multiple mode/protocol voice and data transmissions to be intelligently managed and controlled with a single, integrated system. A computer or other processor includes a local area network controller, which provides routing and hub(s) for one or more packet networks. The computer also is coupled to a buffer/framer, which serves to frame/deframe data to/from the computer from TDM bus.

Abstract: An application-independent language module for language-independent applications responds to a request from an application identifying a concept that is generic to a plurality of languages and the language that the concept is to be expressed in, by generating and returning an expression of the identified concept in the identified language for the application to communicate.

Abstract: In order to provide a radio selective calling receiver that can display a message in language at the current location without making a user recognize the current location, character fonts are automatically switched on the basis of the area information contained in a reception signal.

Abstract: Disclosed is a message receiving method executed on a radio selective calling receiver, which comprises: a first step of judging whether a received message is originated from a local transmission station or a non-local transmission station; a second step of judging whether the received message is an information message or a personal message when the received message is judged to be originated from the non-local transmission station; a third step of judging whether or not a native language is used in the received message when the received message is judged to be the information message; a fourth step of translating the received message into a native language when it is judged that the native language is not used in the received message.

Abstract: The present invention is a device and method for obtaining retail price information from different stores using a touch-tone telephone, whereby the information is stored in a computer and is available to the user in different languages.

Abstract: An application-independent language module for language-independent applications responds to a request from an application identifying a concept that is generic to a plurality of languages and the language that the concept is to be expressed in, by generating and returning an expression of the identified concept in the identified language for the application to communicate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for selecting a language to communicate with a user of a voice mail or computer system. A decoder decodes an automatic number identification (ANI) Caller_ID code or a user ID code to determine the telephone number or identity of the user. A language database stores a hierarchy of languages to be presented to the user based on the location or identity of the user. The user is prompted to confirm the language selection made. If the language is not appropriate, then the next language in the hierarchy is selected.

Abstract: In a messaging system of the type that receives a voice and/or fax message intended for a subscriber, an electronic mail message notifying the subscriber of the received message is composed in a language selected by the subscriber and then sent to one or more subscriber supplied electronic mail addresses. The subscriber can select to receive such notification messages in any one of a plurality of different languages that are available on the system. Different subscribers can select different ones of the available languages.

Abstract: A method of and system for processing calls from a first country having a first national language to a second country receives a request to complete a call from the first country and determines if the call cannot be completed as dialed. If the method determines that the call cannot be completed as dialed, the method forwards the call to an operator who can speak the first national language for assistance.